It seems as though a new rapper comes out every–single–day. Some of them are good, a lot of them don’t even deserve the digital binary they’re recording on. But, there in lies the beauty of the internet, a gateway to an ocean of music, videos and so forth. And while the key to this gateway was made available to the huge number of music enthusiasts , it was also made available to a huge number of music creators, therefore making the already massive ocean even larger. Beautiful or not, I know how tedious (and annoying) it can be to constantly browse the web searching and listening, waiting to hear a new MC that you get genuinely excited about.

So, I guess the real question we’re all seeking the answer to as we meddle on our computers is “What makes a dope MC, dope?” Obviously that’s a highly opinionated question that I won’t even bother to answer, although if there were a real answer that explained the guidelines, I bet it would make things a lot easier. Nonetheless, one of the perks of having this blog is that sometimes we dont have to search at all. Dope MC’s come to us.

Take Coincidence, for example, a quality MC in this massive quantity. Hailing from L.A., he illuminates the diversity of the city through lyrical tales of love, life, and society. Over the last two years he has developed a sound and style that puts him in a rare breed of MC. If you’re looking for prada shoes, gucci belts, louie shades and other swag bragging, you won’t find it here, but rather a biting lyrical wit and a sense of creative obscurity. The homie hit us up a couple of weeks back after we posted up some tough tracks from Flick Brown for the Friday smokers.

For those that don’t know, he too wil be dropping a mixtape soon entitled Breathing Room with beats provided by the enigmatic, yet exceptional producer Akello Light. It’s something I’m pretty stoked to listen to, and after hearing the tunage below, I’m sure you will be too. Stay tuned for more from Coincidence, as we will certainly be dropping more tracks from this artist leading up to Breathing Room. Visuals after the jump.

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Download: Akello & Coincidence – Numb Tuesday

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Download: Akello & Coincidence – Extra Serious

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So I was at a little show last night here in Nashville, TN at a place called, “The Mercy Lounge.”  Usually, the venue is home to music from the more country -acoustical perspective, but this night I heard some Stan Getz, known for  the “Girl From Ipanema”, coming to my ears. This lovely sound made me want to dance and make inappropriate thrusts with my ‘boday’, but only if I had a little bit quicker tempo. It reminds me of the time I would listen to some good proggy (progressive) house back in the day. There are songs out there that a lot of people miss out on including me.

Similar artists that have some great progressive house tunes these days would be the talents of Roberto Bosco (pictured), Jimpster, Christian Smith, and NUfrequency. This music allows you to dance with a cig or a drink in your hand without having to worry about the “glowstick guy” next to you throwing his sticks around to hard cause the beat is ‘bangin’ the woofers so much.

So without further adieu enjoy these songs and also the huge set done by Nufrequency. This set was taken from John Digweed’s guest mix website and these separate tracks should set your mood for that Miami soul.

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Download: Roberto Bosco – Dub Piano

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Download: Jimpster – Just The Kind Of Girl

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Download: NUfrequency – Transitions (02.08.2009)

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Phonte and Nicolay finally dropped a video for the track “House Of Cards” from their 2008 album Leave It All Behind. This would be the third music video supplement to the album. Although the entire album is amazing, this was one of the premier tracks from the album. The production from Nicolay over all of the songs suits a particular signature style, where had you heard this album before, you could start a track in the middle and recognize who it is. Albeit, what makes this song genius and unique is its climactic rise melodically in contrast to its very moving and serious lyrics. There is a point where the songs synth and piano parts begin to frolic as Phonte and Muhsinah remind the listener that this is the end for whomever the subject is.

The video is directed by Matt Koza. The post production and cinematography of the video is done really well. Koza takes some what of a City Of Angels concept and adapts it to fit the song. Great stuff. Check it out below, and watch the the two previous videos after the jump.

The Foreign Exchnage (ft. Muhsinah) – House of Cards

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The Clientele has released a new single from their upcoming album. The track is called “I Wonder Who We Are” and it will be featured on their 5th studio album entitled Bonfires on the Heath which should be released this upcoming October 6th. This is a fun little up-beat/jazzy track that is perfect for a summer release. Check out the track below:

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Download: The Clientele – I Wonder Who We Are

• www.myspace.com/theclienteleofficial
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So Madlib (super producer/MC) teamed up with J Rocc(Beat Junkies founder) to put on an amazing radio show on the BBC. These guys are both from Stones Throw Records They were filling in for the vacationing Gilles Peterson. The set is 2 hours and it features reggae, jazz, hip-hop..you name it. It’s an eclectic mix of really good music. These guys got good tastes! But that was already known. There’s some Rick James and of course some J Dilla and tons more. There is definitely something for everybody in this set.

Tracklisting:

Madlib – Set 1

Irio De Paula Ft Stephan Gross – Unknown
Dicci Santucci – Unknown
The Hamilton Face Band – ‘The Good Guys’ (Unknown)
Unknown – Unknown
The Russell Jenkins Outfit (Y.N.Q.) – ‘The Drinking Suite’ (Unknown)
Kenny Cook Octet – ‘Tunes For Pharoah’(Unknown)
Thai Soul Compilation – ‘Thai Boxing’(Unknown)
Prince jazzbo – ‘Make A Move’ (Unknown)
Unknown – ‘Psychedelic Joint’ (Unknown)
Byron Miller – ‘Panama’ (Big One Music)
Rassan Roland Kirk – ‘The Case Of The Mystery Black Notes’
Unknown – Unknown
Unknown – Unknown
Unknown – Unknown
Unknown – Unknown

J-Rocc – Set 1

Johnny Hammond – ‘Gambler’s Life’ (Soul Brother)
Zimbo Trio – ‘Que Maravilla’ (Unknown)
Andre Penazzi – ‘Mas Que Nada’ (Unknown)
J. Dilla – ‘Nyro Beat’ (Unknown)
Laura Nyro – ‘Beads Of Sweat’ (Columbia)
Grupo Guerra 78 – ‘Soul Makossa’ (Discolanda)
Harvey Mason – ‘Universal Rhyme’ (Artista)
Howard Johnson – ‘So Fine’(A&M Records)
Build An Ark – ‘You Got To Have Freedom’ (J.Rocc Dub 2) (Kindred Spirits)
Funkapolitan – ‘As The Time Goes By’ (London Records)
Rick James – ‘Cold Blooded’ (Motown)
Roger – ‘Maxx Axe’ (Warner Bros)
J Dilla – ‘Maxx Axe Beat’ (Unknown)

Madlib – Set 2

Tracklisting Unavailable

J-Rocc – Set 2

Romy – ‘That’s My L.A.’ (Loma)
Azymuth – ‘Rico Suave Bossa Nova’ (Unknown)
J Rocc – ‘Malcom Was Here’ (Unknown)
Slum Village – ‘Players’ (Instrumental) (Good Vibe)
Aaliyah – ‘Rock The Boat’ (Accapella) (Virgin records)
Giorgio Moroder – ‘Theme From Midnight Express’ (Casablanca Records)
Hamilton Bohannon – ‘Save Their Souls’ (Unknown)
J Dilla – ‘The Heist’ (Original Version Loop)/Psycho
J Dilla – ‘Wild Original’ (Stones Throw Records)
Andy Partridge/Phatom Captain – ‘The History Of Rock N Roll/Brether (C&S Records)
Me’Shell – ‘Pocketbook’ (Dilla Remix Inst) (Maverick)
Common – ‘Come Close’ (Sketch 3) (MCA Records)
Mikey Dread – ‘Turntable’ (Get On It) (Unknown)
Kids – ‘Chants’(Unknown)
Brother Bones – ‘Sweet Georgia Brown’ (Harlem Globetrotter)
Novi Singers – ‘Two Three Four’ (Polskie Nagrania Muza)
Shooby Taylor – ‘Live Performance/Intro’ (Unknown)
Shooby Taylor – ‘Gigi’ (Unknown)
Jose Mauro & Ana Maria Bahiana – ‘Take It Back’ (Remix Original)

• www.myspace.com/madlib
• www.myspace.com/funkypresident (J Rocc)
• Stones Throw Records
• Gilles Peterson Radio Show

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When I first saw Sa-Ra’s debut album, The Hollywood Recordings, in the record store, I had never heard of them before. I thought to myself – “This is a group is taking themselves way to seriously and are probably wack!” I mean seriously, creative partners? That day I learned the valuable lesson that has held fast for so many years; don’t ever judge a book by it’s cover. A friend of mine had the record and let me listen to it, and that very day I went back to the shop to buy their record.

Pretentious sounding name aside, Sa-Ra, the trio consisting of Om’Mas Keith, Taz Arnold, and Shafiq Husayn are honestly creative. The groups imaginative music becomes more like soulful soundscapes, blending elements of hip-hop, jazz, funk, rock and space. This is a track from their recently released album, Nuclear Evolution: The Age of Love entitled Dirty Beauty. The song features none other than the goddess of neo-soul, Erykah Badu. Check it out below and keep listening.

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Download: Sa-Ra Creative Partners – Dirty Beauty (feat. Erykah Badu)

Be cool and support The Sa-Ra Creative Partners

• myspace.com/saramusic
• sa-ra.net

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